Self Love
In order to truly love others, you must first love yourself.
For Self Love, artist Christina James utilized the imagery of plants to symbolize self love, as the subject hugs herself in the shape of a heart. Times are difficult for so many of us, but this piece acts as a reminder that we cannot pour from an empty cup. We must first love ourselves in order to spread that compassion and love to others.
We're excited to feature Christina James for this 'Designed with LOVE' artwork. Not only is Christina a full-time student, but she's also a freelance illustrator and small business owner, as noted in her bio below.
We love her personalized style that's inspired by the brushwork and lighter color palette styles of the Impressionism movement. This movement in the world of painting dates back to the 1860s, when a group of young artists very simply painted what they saw and felt. They rejected the clarity of form which many critiqued for "unfinished appearances."
However, we embrace this style for truly embodying what it means to 'Outdare Gravity' as an artist – to represent how something feels to you in that specific moment. Even if that means you take your own approach to art without seeking perfection.
The combination of this impressionism style with the theme of loving others fits so well. Every person is unique just like every art piece is unique. It's important to love yourself, accept who you are, and embrace who you are.
Christina James
Christina James is a marine biology student at Old Dominion University, as well as a freelance illustrator and small business owner. Working in a multitude of styles, with inspiration from the Impressionism movement, she loves creating vibrant, whimsical works that radiate positivity.
As an Afro-Caribbean-American artist, she hopes to inspire other people of color to paint the world with their excellence.